Bahrain GP Debate

[Chad Stewarthill]

Article 5.5 of the Sporting Regulations and Article 198 of the ISC are not in conflict with each other. Article 5.5 is simply about the publication of the final list of events in January, prior to the start of the season. 198 refers to events that are cancelled after the publication of that list. where's the problem?

Article 5.6 is about the following season and therefore irrelevant to the 2011 argument, so in what way does that conflict with article 198, which is about the current season?

In any case, if there were any conflict between the ISC and the F1 Regulations, who's to say that the F1 Regs should take precedence?
The FIA should know when to just shut up.

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

Here's an extract from a Guardian article from February 21 2011, with a link below to the full article:

"The Bahrain International Circuit today announced that the Kingdom of Bahrain would withdraw from hosting this year's F1 grand prix race so that the country can focus on its process of national dialogue"


http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/feb/21/bahrain-grand-prix-cancelled

No mention of postponement there.

 

[Theo_55]

Perhaps all concerned, the FIA, FOTA and FOM should all agree to let this regretful episode die by responding NO COMMENT to all isseues, the back and forth buck passing makes the whole circus of F1 look stupid!

 

[ATL11]

Don't think common sense ever got a look in - every other reason but, I think.

Glad it's gone though and next year too hopefully - you don't forget or change your principles over a few months.

I know I have said earlier that these issues may not be resolved in early 2012 when the nod will be for the trace to go ahead. Some smarter thinking would be to move the 2012 race to the later part of the year to ensure we don't have....

Put the left foot in
Put you left foot out
in
out
in
out
you shake your track about

 

[Theo_55]

I think the Bahrain GP would definitely be back next year, for the purpose of a calm atmosphere, they should make it a back to back race with Abu Dhabi, that would be one year and about four months hence, also, as much as some fans would say they do not wish to see this venue return, we should be guided by the words of John Todt and other team principals who said that F1 should not be involved in politics, if political considerations became the norm for staging an F1 race the season would be very short indeed.

I am not hearing of many nations prepared to pay hundreds of millions just to stage an F1 race, add the uncertainties caused by human rights activists, those emerging nations that have the money to build a track would be thinking twice before even dreaming about an F1 race in their country.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

IMHO - There should never have given Bahrain a hope to host a GP this season and this fiasco would have come to an end before it started. I'm for one glad it's finally been called off and would like to see next seasons called off if violence kicks off again.

 

[MCLS]

I hope that they have to pass a series of tests before being allowed to have a race in 2012.

 

[teabagyokel]

I hope that they have to pass a series of tests before being allowed to have a race in 2012.

I'm sure they'll be in the F1 hokey-cokey again for 2012. Bet the teams won't want to do 21 races and that it'll be Bahrain they oppose!

 

[RasputinLives]

I'm sure they'll be in the F1 hokey-cokey again for 2012. Bet the teams won't want to do 21 races and that it'll be Bahrain they oppose!

yeah but Turkey aren't going to renew anyways so they won't have that problem

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

I hope that they have to pass a series of tests before being allowed to have a race in 2012.

I hope so too!

 

[Slyboogy]

Greece has riots like Bahrain nearly every day, yet F1 are looking for a race there

 

[GurraJG]

Greece has riots like Bahrain nearly every day, yet F1 are looking for a race there

Are the Greek security forces shooting to kill?

 

[Theo_55]

Are the Greek security forces shooting to kill?

They did kill a 15 year old in 2008, this sparked riots in all their cities.

 

[Bus Stop Chicane]

Hopefully it won't come back. A very unenjoyable race to watch in all honesty, it was good to get a break from it this year.

 

[Slyboogy]

Are the Greek security forces shooting to kill?

They are using rubber bullets just like the Bahraini's....

 

[GurraJG]

They are using rubber bullets just like the Bahraini's....

Yes, but the intention of the Greek security forces isn't to kill or torture anyone. There's crowd control, and then there's arbitrarily arresting and torturing nurses and doctors for caring for people.

 

[Slyboogy]

Yes, but the intention of the Greek security forces isn't to kill or torture anyone. There's crowd control, and then there's arbitrarily arresting and torturing nurses and doctors for caring for people.

It might be a lesser degree....but it still is happening.

My friend that lives in Greece says it's not at all safe, she doesn't even leave the windows open at night, riots all the time, fights all the time.

Now if Greeks are rioting nearly everyday and causing fights within each other aswell, then why are Formula 1 looking for a race there? I would not be surprised if they attack F1 when it goes to Greece as the videos that she has shown have been appalling...

 

[GurraJG]

First of all, I doubt an F1 race in Greece is going to happen any time soon (they're broke, so who'll pay Bernie?).

Now, yes, the situation in Greece is unstable, to put it midly. But there's a difference between people rioting because they're dissatisfied with the economic policies of their country and rioting for basic human rights. The police in Greece might be heavy handed, but they're not arbitrarily arresting people for demanding basic rights denied to them because of their religion. They're not torturing and trying doctors and nurses for caring for the wounded. They haven't called in foreign troops to repress the civil unrest.

There's always going to be a debate about the morals of racing in whatever country F1 decides to race in, but to race in a country such as Bahrain is undeniably morally wrong. Sports shouldn't get involved in politics, but people demeaning equal rights for all isn't poltics, it's basic human rights. Just because you're one religion or the other, you shouldn't be denied an equal opportunity, like they are in Bahrain.

 

[teabagyokel]

According to Mr. Ecclestone, Bahrain paid its hosting fee for the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix which never happened. It is easy to see why he's so keen to keep planting them on the calendar, isn't it?

 

[Fenderman]

I truly feel for him. After all, he's probably tied the money up in some other deal and would have to (heaven forbid) raid his personal funds to pay it back. Not that I'm suggesting that he has done anything underhand, you understand .... just business.